Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mike Halliday on October 26, 2013, 07:20:46 am

Title: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 26, 2013, 07:20:46 am
Thinking of putting a special offer on my leaflet for half price stain removal, do you think £30 is a decent price for removing a stain?

I was thinking on some jobs it will leave a big clean patch so they will get the carpet cleaned anyhow and at least it will increase my database.

Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: gwrightson on October 26, 2013, 08:03:36 am


£30  Mike !!

 ok if around corner then could take  an hour or so to remove .

Geoff
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Simon Gerrard on October 26, 2013, 08:43:48 am
Not in a million years would I focus on stain removal as a service, to me that is really asking for trouble or at least an increased chance of dissatisfaction if the bloody thing doesn't come out.

Simon
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on October 26, 2013, 08:51:54 am
I agree with Simon you are actually saying (in the eyes of the customer) for £30 you are going to remove the stain every time.

Why not say that you will offer a free test patch to see how well their carpet will respond to cleaning that really would put them on the spot (pun not intended)

Shaun
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Steve Gunn on October 26, 2013, 10:52:57 am
Dye gone costs more than that if that's what's needed
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 26, 2013, 12:48:45 pm
It makes me smile as some carpet cleaner around me don't actually charge £30 to clean the full carpet, but everyone is saying you can't charge £30 to attempt to remove a stain ??? ???

I say 'attempt' because I'm not daft enough to guarantee to remove the stain, when they call I will explain we are very successful at stain removal but no guarentee can be given.

I've done something similar in the past and just told them honestly that when I arrive I will evaluate the stain and give my professional opinion if it will come out, this is free and at this point they can tell me not to bother and I will walk and charge no fee..... But if I start to remove the stain, (no matter what the outcome) then they pay the price
Title: Re: Charge for stain removalget
Post by: Simon Gerrard on October 26, 2013, 01:00:54 pm
The difference  between offering a carpet cleaning service and offering a stain removal service is that the focus in the first instance is on cleaning, which in part can be about removing stains but most people will accept that certain stains won't come out because they can see how clean the rest of the carpet is. In the second instance the customers is entirely focused on the removing of stains and in my view it really doesn't matter how you put it to a client you're still going to get people who aren't happy with your service and you increase that risk by focusing on an aspect of cleaning that is at the very best precarious.

Simon
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: wynne jones on October 26, 2013, 02:20:10 pm
Sounds like a carpet cleaning Guru idea from the land of polypropylene.

Can't see why any busy carpet cleaner would want to go down that route, its a complete lottery and from my experience it attracts people who will never have their carpets cleaned just want the one off eye sore in their living room gone.
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Doug Holloway on October 26, 2013, 04:52:48 pm
Hi Guys

I still have a minimum £70 for stain removal.

It's just not worth the hassle to do it any cheaper and these jobs are hardly top of my list!.

I usually say to the customer that I will clean the room while I am removing the stain as this gives them value and a lot of stain removal needs a bit of dwell.

Cheers

Doug

Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: JandS on October 26, 2013, 06:30:30 pm
I don't even advertise stain removal......advertise stain treatment.
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 26, 2013, 07:32:48 pm
I see the problem, it's ok if it's just a bit of mud or dirt but a real stain starts making your anal sphincter start to twitch :D :D

A bit of red wine or Ticka Masala and you  run for the hills.

This offer will go on my leaflet which goes out in a 4 mile radius of my home, I will not have to go out of my way to do them,  I have a spot pro machine so need need to set up  the truck-mount, plus I get most stains out. This will be a minimum,  quick £30 and it gets me on the house.

I can see why some wouldn't have the confidence to do this but I don't see stains as a big deal.
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Simon Gerrard on October 26, 2013, 08:00:48 pm
I don't think it is a matter of confidence as most professionals are pretty accomplished in their stain removal skills and no matter who you are you cannot get them all out and that is certain to lead to problems.
Offering a stain removal service in the year after having their carpet cleaned would make more sense as the stain can be no older than 12 months which if you have left the carpet stain free after cleaning it then shouldn't be a problem on a stain visit.

Simon
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Neil Williams on October 26, 2013, 08:33:44 pm
If I get called out for a 'stain' then I work on
£50 if it comes out £30 if it doesn't
In the mind it's a win win for the customer
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on October 26, 2013, 08:52:35 pm
I think it is dependant on how large an area you do and how you can you can fit them into your working day as well as what is it in it for you. Everyone's business model is different for me I couldn't make it work I'd spend more on fuel and time.

Shaun
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Darran Pryce on October 27, 2013, 06:58:05 am
You might be better to offer carpet maintenance cleans (living room carpet cleaned every 6 months) for x amount! 
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: Ian Gourlay on October 27, 2013, 11:34:04 am
What gets me is the crazy way most of us run Carpet Cleaning . Most advertise Stain Removal included yet it can often take up a lot of time

Just ordered some vinyl from Carpetright  the cost of material was about £175 but by the time you have paid for screeding fitting tape etc you are up to £425
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: TheWindowManChris on October 27, 2013, 11:40:26 am
I see the problem, it's ok if it's just a bit of mud or dirt but a real stain starts making your anal sphincter start to twitch :D :D

A bit of red wine or Ticka Masala and you  run for the hills.

This offer will go on my leaflet which goes out in a 4 mile radius of my home, I will not have to go out of my way to do them,  I have a spot pro machine so need need to set up  the truck-mount, plus I get most stains out. This will be a minimum,  quick £30 and it gets me on the house.

I can see why some wouldn't have the confidence to do this but I don't see stains as a big deal.

Try Barrs Red Kola, Irn-Bru all mixed into it :D

30 quid is a good for 4mile.   Plus when your in the house you say 'I can remove the stain but be aware it will look odd'   I did 'Spot Stain removal for £10!  We had everyone and there gran booking it.   It was just after New year!    However in most the houses we Upsell them to full carpet clean.   Which was perfect little Promotional Grabber for us to launch our Carpet Cleaning Service.
Title: Re: Charge for stain removal
Post by: wynne jones on October 27, 2013, 03:07:53 pm
Hi Guys

I still have a minimum £70 for stain removal.

It's just not worth the hassle to do it any cheaper and these jobs are hardly top of my list!.

I usually say to the customer that I will clean the room while I am removing the stain as this gives them value and a lot of stain removal needs a bit of dwell.

Cheers

Doug



You need to get Mike to teach you how to do spotting properly Doug if you're not very confident.  ;)